Local produce the priority on Bobbie’s shopping list

Bobbie Goulding is looking to beef up his depleted Hornets squad with local talent. With just Wayne Corcoran under contract, Goulding’s phone line has been red hot this week in his search for new recruits.

Bobbie Goulding is looking to beef up his depleted Hornets squad with local talent.

With just Wayne Corcoran under contract, Goulding’s phone line has been red hot this week in his search for new recruits.

And the Hornets coach is close to signing former Spotland favourite Sam Butterworth – who was surprisingly released last season – plus Chris Hough, who was once a regular in the club’s A team and made several appearances for the first team.

Butterworth returns from Leigh Centurions to join his hometown club and Goulding, who was at pains to understand why he was allowed to leave, is keen to seal his return and said: “I want Sam at the club, he wants to be here and I’m close to completing a deal.

“I’m 70 per cent, 75 per cent down the line. I’m nearly there, and there are just a few bits and bobs to sort out. But I’m quietly confident of him joining Hornets. I want him back and he should never have been released.

“He is a class act and he is the type of player who can win you the game.”

And the former Great Britain scrum half is keen to pair him up with Littleborough resident Hough, who has many of the qualities he values.

“Chris has got a good kicking game and he’s a feisty little player,” added Goulding, “a good mould, been around, knows the division and he’s just got that attitude about him.

“He’s great with his own team-mates and others hate playing against him. He lives locally in Littleborough.

“He’s tenacious, he’ll have a go and he doesn’t back down from anybody. Chris is going to be seven for me, but if we are struggling he can play hooker and I’m sure he would say I’ll play there, no problem, he’s one of those players. He’ll want to get out on the field and have a go.

“He’s a real good signing and if we can get the forwards – a physical pack – with a physical half back like him then we are going in the right direction.”

Goulding is also pleased to have Rochdalian Corcoran on board, but will also look to his own neck of the woods – Widnes – to recruit players he is familiar with.

“Wayne Corcoran is another local lad who can play in a few positions and his heart and soul are in the club.

“That’s what I want to build on. Local lads from the Rochdale, Oldham area.

“But I’ll also look to bring in one or two from Widnes St Maries, the first will be Mike Gill a big, aggressive second row/centre.

“I want to start off big in this division. It’s been non-stop. I must have spoken to more than 30 people in the last three or four days. The feelers are out. Everything’s positive and I’ll just get on with it.”